Syrup producers back bill that would encourage leasing maples

Frank Ordonez / The Post-Standard Karl Wiles, of Cedavale Maple Syrup Co., begins tapping trees in preparation for the the maple syrup season in this photo taken on Feb.14.

New York maple syrup producers want to tap into the increasing worldwide demand for their product with help from a bill introduced in Congress.

The Maple Tapping Access Program would offer grants to states to develop programs encouraging landowners to allow maple producers to tap trees on their property.

Untapped potential

Nearly 300 million maple trees are located on private land in New York. Of those, 35 million are located in Central New York, where less than 1 percent of all potential syrup-producing trees are tapped.

Source: Office of Sen. Charles Schumer

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Landowners would lease their trees to the maple producers. This would provide landowners with additional income, help maple producers make more syrup and create more jobs in the industry.

Harry Komrowski, a maple syrup producer in Lysander, said he would consider doubling his taps, to 1,000 from 500, if the law is passed.

"Maple is an amazing commodity," he said. "It seems to be recession proof. I can't get over it. Sales are great. There are plenty of trees near me and it's very tempting to expand my operation."

Komrowski said some retailers who used to offer pure maple syrup to customers now sell a mixture of 55 percent maple syrup to 45 percent corn syrup, because there isn't enough pure syrup to sell.

That's what Sen. Charles Schumer's bill is all about, Komrowski said.

When introduced last year, the bill didn't make it out of committee. Max Young, speaking for Schumer, said the senator is optimistic this year because of the increasing demand for syrup and an aim of the bill is to create jobs, "which is the issue du jour in Washington these days."

Timothy Whitens, a Granby producer, said he already has an agreement with a landowner to expand his maple operation this year. He formerly tapped 800 trees, but this year will have 1,200 taps.

"I got permission from a man I know to tap a sugarbush 10 miles from here in Ira (Cayuga County)," Whitens said. "This bill would be a good tool to encourage people to let us tap" on their property.

He said he could expand further if he gained access to more trees.

Mary Jeanne Packer, executive director of the New York State Maple Producers Association, said New York taps only 1 percent of its maple trees. Demand for syrup far outweighs the amount made each year.

In 2008, producers made 322,000 gallons of syrup in what was one of the best years in recent memory. Packer said New York doesn't even make enough syrup for its own residents; it imports four times as much as it makes from other states and Canada.

The bill was introduced in the Senate by Schumer, D-N.Y. and co-sponsored by Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y. and Rep. John McHugh, R-Pierrepont Manor, introduced the bill in the House.

Schumer said increasing the number of taps would provide a huge economic boost and new jobs to Upstate New York.

Lewis County is the largest maple producer in the state. Each county in Central New York is home to some maple producers.

New York's productivity is hindered by the fact that 73 percent of maple trees are on privately-owned land, Schumer said.

New York has nearly 200 million more maple trees than Quebec, yet that Canadian province is the world leader in syrup production, he said.

Packer also said in addition to supplying more syrup to New Yorkers, there is a burgeoning market overseas. She said Europeans and some Pacific Rim residents are using maple as a natural sweetener and are clamoring for more.